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Officer George Neal Ramsburg | Maryland Aviation Administration Police Department, Maryland
Maryland Aviation Administration Police Department, Maryland

Officer

George Neal Ramsburg

Maryland Aviation Administration Police Department, Maryland

End of Watch: Friday, February 22, 1974

Biographical Info

Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 11 months
Badge Number: 129

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 22, 1974
Weapon Used: Handgun; .22 caliber
Suspect Info: Committed suicide

Officer George Ramsburg was shot and killed during a hijacking attempt when he confronted a hijacker at one of the gates at Baltimore Washington International Airport.

The suspect intended to hijack a plane and crash it into the White House in an attempt to kill President Richard Nixon. After shooting Officer Ramsburg, the suspect entered a commercial airline flight and ordered the pilot to take off. When the pilot refused, the suspect opened fire, killing the co-pilot and wounding the pilot. The suspect then took one of the passengers as a hostage.

Another officer arrived on the scene and shot the suspect through one of the airplane's windows, striking him in the chest. The hostage then broke free, and the suspect committed suicide.

Officer Ramsburg was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Maryland Aviation Administration Police Department for 11 months. He was survived by his parents, sister, and two brothers.